BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: For high risk of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in patients of intensive care units (ICUs) and scarcely epidemiology and therapeutic recommendations in Asia, we aimed to evaluate the annual change in epidemiology, antibiogram, and risk factors for 14-day mortality. METHODS: A retrospective study of ICUs patients with CLABSIs at a medical center in Taiwan (2010-2016), where central line care bundle implemented since 2014, by reviewing clinical data, pathogens, and the antibiogram...

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The diagnosis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) was established by changes in lung function after exercise challenge. The prevalence of EIB and factors related to EIB were not fully described in children with asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and predictors of EIB in children with asthma. METHODS: A total of 149 children with physician-diagnosed asthma above 5 years of age underwent standardized treadmill exercise challenge for EIB and methacholine challenge for airway hyper-responsiveness from October 2015 to December 2016...

OBJECTIVE: The use of corticosteroid in Kawasaki disease (KD) remains controversial among current guidelines. The objective of this study is to summarize the effectiveness and safety of corticosteroid to prevent coronary arterial lesions in Kawasaki disease, both as initial and rescue therapy. METHODS: The Medline, EMBASE, Google scholar, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Japanese Institutional Repositories Online were searched for studies up to 31 March 2017...

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disease which causes a considerable disease burden. Patients with COPD are at a higher risk for influenza infection and influenza vaccination are recommended at this high risk patient group. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the association between influenza vaccination and the risk of respiratory failure (RF) in COPD patients. METHODS: From 2001 to 2005, patients with newly diagnosed COPD were identified from the NHIRD, and were followed until 2010...

BACKGROUND: There are few studies of Morganella bacteremia. We evaluated risk factors and outcome of patients with Morganella bacteremia. METHODS: Medical records of patients with Morganella bacteremia were reviewed (1997-2014). Control group patients with Escherichiacoli sepsis were matched by year of diagnosis and infection acquisition site. RESULTS: The study group included 136 adult patients. Mean age and gender of study and control groups were similar...

BACKGROUND: Most cases of complicated pneumonia in children are caused by pneumococcal infections. Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (TA) is present on erythrocytes, platelets and glomeruli, and it can be activated during pneumococcal infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of TA activation for pneumococcal infection and association with the severity of complicated pneumonia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with lobar pneumonia were routinely tested for TA at the Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital from January 2010 to December 2015...

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli is increasing worldwide. This study investigated the clinical features and bacteriology of pediatric patients with ESBL-producing E. coli bacteremia and compared their characteristics with those of adult patients. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory data from all of the 41 patients aged ≤18 years diagnosed with E. coli bacteremia were collected over 5 years. Patients aged >18 years diagnosed with E...

BACKGROUND: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) can be caused by a wide array of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. A prospective study to investigate the epidemiology and clinical presentation in young children hospitalized with AGE was conducted in a medical center in southern Taiwan. METHODS: Patients aged less than 5 years who was hospitalized due to AGE in National Cheng Kung University Hospital were enrolled from July 2014 to June 2016. The demographic information, clinical features and laboratory data were collected by chart reviews, and stool samples were sent to Centers of Disease Control, Taiwan (Taiwan CDC) for a panel of pathogen identification consisting of two viruses, nine bacteria, and five parasites...

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are used in a variety of bio-industrial processes, including milk fermentation, and have been reported to have bactericidal activities. We previously isolated Lactobacillus plantarum NTU 102 from homemade Korean-style cabbage pickles. The aims of this work were to perform a screen of the antimicrobial substances produced by L. plantarum NTU 102 and to characterize it. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the bactericidal activity of this LAB strain and demonstrated that the cell-free supernatant of L...

BACKGROUND: According to the new definition of septic shock, vasopressor therapy and hyperlactatemia are essential for diagnosis. However, there is controversy regarding the cutoff value for lactate, and prognostic factors in patients with septic shock and hypolactatemia. This study evaluated the prognostic significance of the cutoff value for lactate level in septic shock patients. METHODS: The retrospective observational cohort study enrolled 1043 patients aged ≥18 years who meet the revised definition of septic shock...

BACKGROUND: Central line (CL)-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) poses a major threat to patient safety and is associated with additional cost. This study investigated the sustained effect of multimodal interventions focusing on CL bundle improvement in the adult intensive care units (ICUs) of a teaching hospital in Taiwan. METHODS: A before-after prospective study was conducted in 17 adult ICUs of a medical center in northern Taiwan from January 2009 to December 2013...

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study investigated clinical manifestations of candidemia caused by uncommon Candida species and antifungal susceptibility of the isolates in a regional hospital in Taiwan. METHODS: The uncommon Candida species was initially defined as Candida species other than C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata complex, C. parapsilosis complex and C. krusei. All uncommon Candida isolates were identified and confirmed by molecular methods. In vitro susceptibility testing of the uncommon Candida species to nine antifungal agents was conducted using the broth microdilution method with the Sensititre YeastOne (SYO) system (Trek Diagnostic Systems, Ltd...

BACKGROUND: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection is one of the major causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Universal GBS screening with intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) in pregnant women were initiated in 2012 in Taiwan. This study aimed to analyze the most recent maternal GBS colonization rate and the changes in neonatal GBS infection rate from 2011 to 2016. METHODS: All pregnant women and their live born neonates between January 2011 and June 2016 were retrospectively reviewed...

BACKGROUND: In Taiwan, studies about hematogenous pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (HPVO) are limited. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the clinical presentations, treatment, and outcomes of patients with the diagnosis of HPVO. METHOD: This 12.5-year retrospective study included patients with a diagnosis of HPVO. Medical records of all HPVO patients were thoroughly reviewed and their clinical data were analyzed by the SPSS software. RESULT: 414 HPVO cases were included and the mean age was 61...

BACKGROUND: Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections have been increasingly reported worldwide and are associated with nasal colonization. In Taiwan, available data disclosed a similar trend. We conducted a study for the updated childhood nasal MRSA carriage. METHODS: From July 2005 to December 2010, children aged between 2 months and 5 years who presented for a well-child health care visit to a medical center or from kindergarten/daycare center were invited and a nasal swab specimen was obtained for the detection of MRSA...

BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter baumannii infections in neonates are not uncommon but rarely studied. METHODS: Clinical and molecular epidemiology of 40 patients with A. baumannii bacteremia in the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of a medical center from 2004 to 2014 was analyzed. RESULTS: Multi-drug resistance was found in only 3 isolates (7.5%). Sequence types (STs) of A. baumannii defined by multilocus sequencing typing were diverse, and 72...

BACKGROUND: The global spread of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is now a public health problem. In Taiwan, the relationship of the CRAB circulation between long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and acute care hospitals remains unclear. Here, we use molecular epidemiologic methods to describe the transmission of CRAB isolates between a community hospital and its affiliated LTCFs. METHODS: Subjects localized in eight LTCFs who were not admitted acute care hospitals in recent a year were enrolled in this study...

BACKGROUND: Refractory septic shock is the leading cause of mortality in children. There is limited evidence to support extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use in pediatric septic shock. We described the etiology and outcomes of septic patients in our institution and attempted to find predictive factors. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 55 pediatric patients with septic shock who required ECMO support in a tertiary medical center from 2008 to 2015. Septic shock was defined as culture proved or clinical suspected sepsis with hypotension or end-organ hypoperfusion...